To those I live with:
It isn't your always being up at night with the constant din of the TV bugging my wife It isn't you always being tired and complaining that you are the only one doing the dishes. It isn't your bad knees that make you grumpy with my kids. Really, it isn't.
It is yelling at me for the living room being messy when I spent all day yesterday cleaning and the kids using the room again before you see it clean. It is your only feigning interest in life, or at best living vicariously through thin glossy magazines. It is you taking many things personally and not at face value.
Look, I know you get woken up early by the kids, do the laundry and cook, I know your fibro keeps you in misery, and I know that you think it is too hard to do things with bad knees.
I don't see my kids more than 2 hours a day on a good weekday. I can't look forward to a roadtrip with my dad. I can't talk to mom without feeling helpless about her pain.
I work 40+ hours a week. I only get two weeks that are normal. I ask for some time by myself, and usually get it, but I pay for it later. I want a little slack. I don't mind being the one who fixes the broken shit, makes the calls, or does the major cleanups. Really, I don't mind. What I do mind is being taken for granted, and yelled at when I can't finish. I have my own issues. If I don't pick up the kid's toys, bring your cleaning up, or load the dishwasher I usually have a good reason. Less often I just forget.
If my hobbies and off center ideas bug you fine. If I have to explain it more that three times you'll never get it. If you think my dog brings in a lot of dirt, let me remind you we have 3 kids. You could eat off that dog most days, and the kids get so dirty I'm dubious about eating with them. Please learn to talk to other family members.
I feel taken advantage of sometimes. I feel like I am put in the middle with no benefit to either party, especially me. I need to be with my kids. I need a vacation. If this keeps up, for every infraction of my limits I'll smoke in the house.
Dear Buddha, please bring me a pony and a plastic rocket.
It is yelling at me for the living room being messy when I spent all day yesterday cleaning and the kids using the room again before you see it clean. It is your only feigning interest in life, or at best living vicariously through thin glossy magazines. It is you taking many things personally and not at face value.
Look, I know you get woken up early by the kids, do the laundry and cook, I know your fibro keeps you in misery, and I know that you think it is too hard to do things with bad knees.
I don't see my kids more than 2 hours a day on a good weekday. I can't look forward to a roadtrip with my dad. I can't talk to mom without feeling helpless about her pain.
I work 40+ hours a week. I only get two weeks that are normal. I ask for some time by myself, and usually get it, but I pay for it later. I want a little slack. I don't mind being the one who fixes the broken shit, makes the calls, or does the major cleanups. Really, I don't mind. What I do mind is being taken for granted, and yelled at when I can't finish. I have my own issues. If I don't pick up the kid's toys, bring your cleaning up, or load the dishwasher I usually have a good reason. Less often I just forget.
If my hobbies and off center ideas bug you fine. If I have to explain it more that three times you'll never get it. If you think my dog brings in a lot of dirt, let me remind you we have 3 kids. You could eat off that dog most days, and the kids get so dirty I'm dubious about eating with them. Please learn to talk to other family members.
I feel taken advantage of sometimes. I feel like I am put in the middle with no benefit to either party, especially me. I need to be with my kids. I need a vacation. If this keeps up, for every infraction of my limits I'll smoke in the house.
Dear Buddha, please bring me a pony and a plastic rocket.